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Safety For Tourist - A++
Swaminarayan
Akshardham in New Delhi epitomises 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its
breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom and bliss. It brilliantly showcases the
essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual
messages. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through India’s
glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony
of mankind.
The grand, ancient-styled Swaminarayan Akshardham complex
was built in only five years through the blessings of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj
of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) and the
colossal devotional efforts of 11,000 artisans and BAPS volunteers. The complex was
inaugurated on 6 November, 2005.
Akshardham
means the eternal, divine abode of the supreme God, the abode of eternal values
and virtues of Akshar as defined in the Vedas and Upanishads where divine
bhakti, purity and peace forever pervades.
For the first time ever in the world witness the heritage of India
in all its facets, insights and beauty at the Swaminarayan Akshardham through
its mandir, exhibitions, verdant gardens and other attractions.
The building had been planned since 1968 as a vision of Yogiji
Maharaj. Yogiji
Maharaj, the spiritual head of the BAPS
Swaminarayan Sanstha at the time, expressed his desire for wanting a grand
temple built on the banks of the Yamuna river to two or three devotee families
of Swaminarayan that resided in New Delhi at the time. Attempts
were made to start the project, however little progress was made. In 1971,
Yogiji Maharaj died.
In 1982, Pramukh
Swami Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj's successor as the
spiritual head of BAPS, started to continue fulfilling the dream of his guru
Yogiji Maharaj and prompted devotees to look into the possibility of building
the temple in Delhi. A request for the plan was put forward to the Delhi Development Authority(DDA), and several different places were suggested,
including Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Faridabad. Pramukh Swami Maharaj stood firm in following the wishes
of Yogiji Maharaj to build a temple on the Yamuna.
In April 2000, after 18 years, the
Delhi Development Authority offered 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land,
and the Uttar Pradesh Government offered 30 acres (120,000 m2) for the project. Upon receiving the land,
Pramukh Swami Maharaj performed puja on the site for success in the project. Construction on the
temple began on 8 November 2000 and Akshardham was officially opened on 6
November 2005, with the building being completed in two days short of five
years.
